 Hey everybody welcome my show Friday p.m. My name is Luigi Scarcelli today. We have a very interesting show We have a Greg Arianne. He is he's coming to us from zoom In Rhode Island. Isn't that you're in Rhode Island currently? Yes, I'm in Rhode Island, but my full name first name Gregory. Greg is just for Facebook, you know, right? Right Greg is just for Facebook Gregory Arianne is zooming in for Rhode Island. Gregory is a filmmaker. He's a violinist Has a very interesting story and we wanted to talk a lot more about it. So instead of me talking too much about myself I'll let you introduce yourself a little bit Greg Why don't you start out by telling us, you know, where you were born and kind of that story a little bit? Okay, so actually I'm third generation of musician in our family So I grew up in a musical musical family, you know, my grandfather he was a folk musician and my father was great musician. He just passed away three years ago. He played very old Eastern and Instrument called Camantcha I'm Armenian from Azerbaijan So Armenian origin and the Azerbaijan it's it's it's a Republic of former Soviet Union Which disappear, you know that in 91. So I grew up in Azerbaijan being Armenian I went to music school for 11 years. They called Special special school for gifted musician musical school, you know, so I graduate there for 11 years and after that, I went to conservatory and started there for five years graduate in 1987 and Receive a master degree on music So but after that in just in one year, it starts, you know, conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenian people living in Azerbaijan. So the problem was because the Rising issues over Nagorno-Karabakh Which is historical Armenian Territory and populated by mostly Armenian like like 95 percent. So what happens? They start they start doing so-called, I mean Continued doing genocide and they start killing Armenians in Baku in Sungai. That's the second City in Azerbaijan. So they start killing Armenians. So we have no choice. We have to flee. We fled from there and So we stay in Armenia for couple couple years and You know that earthquake Happened in Armenian back to 1988 that's the way escape from Azerbaijan So we went to Armenia and in Armenia It was very hard situation and my mom just heard that USA government accepting Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan and that way we apply for that and After two years probably in 91 We came to USA So that's the in shortly I can't describe that but after that So all my our families we came here and After that I went I went back to already not Soviet Union because Soviet Union collapsed in 91 I went back and in Russia actually and I was working in the orchestra's, you know, symphony orchestra for many years then because of family situation I had to stay there until I was coming back and forward, you know, but I Was working in Moscow Symphony Orchestra as a concert. Yes, I played the concerts all that stuff But I feel that something it's not place where where I want to stay, you know, I always was thinking to coming back to USA And I had a couple quick questions because we want to go too far too fast So tell tell the viewers who don't really know because it is interesting I have a friend of mine and he's been on the show From Rwanda and I think some people even know about the genocide in Rwanda But it's very interesting that you're almost saying really not that much of a similar time I mean maybe a decade earlier that was when a lot of this stuff was going on in Armenia That as you know, it's been a very political football here in the US because a lot of People who have a lot of power. I think sometimes of the Prime Minister of Turkey People who don't want that to be that well known have kind of swept this issue under the rug a little bit That was a pretty big genocide and ethnic cleansing and things that was going on in Armenia by the Turkish by the Russian Who what was that all about a little bit? Oh Sure. Yeah, you know I think it's actually even today. They still bombardment Armenian territory not Not Nagorno-Karabakh no more. They took it away from Historical Armenia, you know, they took it like Russia Alive with Turkey and Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, you know, they Azerbaijan people and Turkey they speak same language. They're almost the same nation but two countries So they on influence of Erdogan and Putin at the same time because what they tried to do I think I'm not his historian But I'm practitioner. So I see the what is going on some something going on which Actually was exist even hundred years ago when everybody knows about Armenian genocide, right? been Execution in Turkey but Let me put this way now the same thing is going on in historical Armenian territory and In in Armenia because that Armenia, you know, what they did the first take they did Bolsheviks like learning Stalin and Ataturk, you know, they're at a turk. It's over head of Turkey at that time They cut all Armenia on a on a you know on the pieces And they give it that they give it to Azerbaijan like we have a territory in actual and Nagorno-Karabakh It's always been Armenian population and it's historical part of You know Armenian so they split Armenian territory among Azerbaijan and actually now What is going on now in? Current days They try to do the same thing as they did hundred years ago, but now they try to demo demolish all Armenian Armenians from Armenia Yeah, not a corner car about but exactly not many because the other troops now on Armenian territory they do they do rocket missile strikes and And what I what I can say this is because I think the Kremlin and that regime in Moscow support support that actions They negotiate with Erdogan with Turkey with Azerbaijan president I'll leave and they try to do that But the problem we have in Armenia because they we have a puppet government. They run by Moscow So they do things against their own people they do things against our many people Well, let me ask you that question based on that because you know, everybody knows about what goes on in the Ukraine But they don't know as much about what you're talking about and is that I mean Not that it's not so bad about what what goes on with the Ukrainians We have very much sympathy for them, too But is it do you wonder why they became the topic for everybody to rally behind but not you do you exactly I have Because actually the the war against Ukraine. It's a secondary first. It was against our many in 2020 two years ago, they start the war 44 days. It's lost Azerbaijan Turkey aggression against Armenia back to two years ago and after that they start doing against Ukraine But Ukraine have I think advantage because their president stands for their own people despite what Armenia has now, you know, because in our many Government they go against their own people. They you know, they they're working that's How you say that satellites or so they're working for Kremlin They're working for Putin and do you feel like it's you know, it is almost in that sense that Where this kleptocracy as they call it, right? Which is a theft and a corruption that now the Soviet Union still exists But it's even more behind the hidden curtain and it's with the bribes and the money and the offshore money Because that's probably what you're saying is that the the puppet government. They're a little bit. You believe, you know They they take their orders from the government, but it's because of money and bribes. Yeah There's something they're all interest they're selling the interest of all people for money. Yeah for Brian, right? Yes, exactly and that's what happened because in Armenia of most of our Armenians fled the country for this They have in the so-called independence, but they're not independent at all. They depends on the Russian regime of Russian fascist regime, it's they doing the same things as Adolf Hitler did in Back to 1930s. It's pretty scared Stalin Expanding the expanding You know Tensions and spending they they try to grab the territory That's why they they went to ukraine so-called, you know To help the russian speaking people in ukraine This is nonsense because even the russian speaking people in ukraine fight against Putin now So this is nonsense. They they have no such things there But in armenia, they always keep armenia as colonized. They keep us a colony Right, right. So it was well because that and I and that's what I find fascinating I want to touch on that about Because I do think a lot of people in the us Have a pretty dismal view of adam or putin. They like the russian people and wish that they had a better leader And I know you don't like him. So I thought that would be interesting. We can talk a little bit about that Yeah, I got your point. This is not big This is this is not so simple as the people think it's not because Of you what you like what you dislike. Yeah, I used to live there for many years. I can tell you That regime they have very powerful propaganda And this propaganda Try to dictate What uh, what people should expect from that, you know, so that they try to tell They want people that to russians that everybody enemies like a usa enemy, you know, germany everything All euro everybody's enemy to russian. So we have to fight That was put in a, uh, you know, uh message And and the right we need to we need to control. We need to, uh, invade To prevent net expansion to prevent so so-called. So this is russians racism, uh, how you call that, uh, fury Yeah Ethnocentric nationalism kind of things like that and uh, but the problem even if somebody overthrown that regime I don't think any positive, uh, sign going to happen. You know why? Uh, yeah, why is that why because The russian people itself Let's say 75 85 percent almost 90 they brainwash Yeah, they just They just blind what? Government telling them well, they believe that yeah, and I mean they had everyone believe me And I think they look at the Like uh, western civilization on other nations like a secondary like a second class they discriminate Well, and I think what's interesting is is that, you know, uh, You know, I'm pretty democratic guy. I'm not a giant fan about donald trump I think he he latched on to some of that same thing that is a very hitlerian thing Which is the idea that the the more problems that people have the more you blame the other people So the more that uh, he drives russia outside of of the national or the international circle of countries That the more their country is not good, but he's doing okay He's rich as everybody, you know in his inner circle But then he can take that same situation of the poverty of the russians and blame it on everybody else I mean that's kind of correct, right? It's always the fault of the other countries is what I think putin does Uh, you know, they have a hatred theory. They they don't like anyone. Yeah, and And they're just talking about itself, but they don't tell the real fact like Even if we're talking about armenian colonized territory, they start doing that not today They start doing that even when uh, nicolai start was existing before Before he was overthrown in 1917 he was practicing the same thing Right even people doing massacre and even he sent a greeting. He's general sent a greeting to Turkey You know at that time to kill an armenian they they brave him them to do that And so looking back to you say I think you say now in very hard situation because they have to act for that all that all that threats which coming from Let's say from russia. I guess it's nothing at all not only russia I think it's erdogan also extremely dangerous because they try to he tried to talk with putin to Make uh, you know split the territory and between them between russia and turkey because over there if you're talking about asia Uh, so of all, uh, you know Uzbekistan, uh, then kyrgyzstan and other former Soviet union republic They're all turks. They speak turkish language different dialect So he tried to grab everything but he he he could but if if if back to your question about you say I think you say split now and this is give advantage also to putin because when we talk about Who's good? Who's bad republic on democrats is give him advantage because the usa is it's divided and it's divided big way so Every news every tv channel for example, I don't have tv No more, but I I watch when you on YouTube channel. Okay, uh, and they only talking about that pro-tramp or pro-bibe Right, right. It's a conflict is what sells from tv and the media and if they have a like a boxing match like a two One against the other it's easier to manage Than to say all the many opinions And they don't they should understand that it's give advantage to That guy sitting in kremlin because he likes that when the country is divided And they start to fight with each other it's give him advantage No, I agree And so for the for the second part of the show here, let's talk a little more about yourself as an artist because I don't want to Talk all these about politics also So you had lived in russia. You divorced your wife That's where you I think you were in america and then back to russia That was an interesting chapter in your life. Isn't that correct? You you you were in lived in america before you went back to russia For a while with your wife. Yes. Yes. I was I was I was living in u.s Say then I I went there. I got the job then I get married, you know And uh, that's what happened and uh, I'm divorced now But that experience I uh, I got working over there, you know So I I knew russia now much more than if I never used to live there That's why I can't tell what people think Plus I speak perfect russian. Yeah, so I speak three languages. So yes, so I can I can make my own judgment on that And as a musician, uh, you you that's been able to help you travel to a lot of places because Music is very international Language so that and that's where you've been a professional musician most of the time when you've lived in these other places. I assume, right? Yes, actually, I was orientated on music even when I start Static music when I was seven years old and I was Influenced of my father because my father was very great musician. Yeah And it taught me a lot of things in terms of folk music, Armenian music, you know, this this discipline You can't get in uh, even if you get a master degree on music They're not teaching you with that, you know, because they're teaching you classical music and western Classical music, but besides that it's eastern music and they they implement a different Approach different technique and I learned a lot of things from my father You know, david iran. He's named david iran. Yeah, like I said, he passed away three years ago And this is uh, you know, uh, so I I was an influence of my father Most of the time I really used to play together. I was playing on uh, Piano when he he has a concert, you know, uh touring in the usa canada And uh, so we went to a lot of places and uh, Is it possible for the viewers that we can now, uh, put a part of some of your music into the show? So let's let's take a look at that for a second. Then we'll come right back So we're back here with gregory, uh And and I also wanted to I mean the music's great But we did want to also talk about how you've been a pretty prolific Short filmmaker a lot of times you started out. I think it was year 2000 or so Uh doing documentary some of it's out on the street when you were living in russia It's some interesting stuff some artistic stuff kind of experimental film So if you want to tell the viewers a little bit about that, we can also See some clips of it in a minute and kind of see what your films have been about Sure, yes, uh, you know, uh Before I start making movies, so I came to the idea to start making movies I was liking to see arts Like so-called video art or art house movies I grew up on those movies like Federico Fidlini, you know, uh Search Parajanov great armenian filmmaker Then Tarkovsky, you know, Andrei Tarkovsky then, uh, uh, some french Jean-Luc Godard, he just passed away few days ago And so on and I like silent movies actually Charlie Chaplin. That's what I was watching all the time since my uh, you know Since my childhood. So I was always Watching Charlie Chaplin's movies I liked it. So 2000 you say right. Yeah in 2000 I start making my first Films independent films so I start with documentaries Then I did Video video art films Then I turned it to experimental and the lead rather than that. I start making experimental fiction films short films You know, they I made about All total I made probably about 20 short films include documentaries include video art music videos and fiction films Yeah, it sounds and you've played these in other countries and in america and is that something that uh, Do you do you love it as much as as music? It's different. How does that compare to your artistry with your instrument? Yeah, I think it's music the most important things of any film even short film or Fiction film. I think music is very important Uh, that's the problem. You can you can make a good Good film, but if it's not music not fit then it's you ruin the film So music is one of the most important things compared to uh, filmmaking That that's my opinion and not only my opinion. Oh, yeah, but mostly what I did, you know, I have All freedom to to do whatever I want because nobody tell me what to do What what because I was independent completely independent. That's why maybe independent films It's not what commercial film because there is a producers the money investment And they can dictate what to do how to do so I got all freedom and I did whatever I I could do sure well, let's uh, let's give the viewers a chance to Take a look at some of the films So we'll we'll now go ahead and take a look at some clips from the films And you can see the full films of these at can you tell the the audience where they can find all of your films? It's I know on vimeo and on youtube and Oh, yes, correct It's very easy to to get that screen if you just print my first and last name on youtube Uh, you can get the link to my channel, you know, gregarie iran a y r i y a n And that way you get to my channel, you know, you can subscribe to my channel and watch Or music almost every day. I play the music even i'm using my phone. I play the music, you know And uh, but besides that if you go to popular, uh, we first you can you can find a lot of films And and uh, we will link to that at the bottom of the screen So let's take a look at some clips of some of those films. We'll come back We'll wrap it up with gregarie stick around for that right back here with gregarie. So we're closing up gregarie I appreciate it so much. Thanks for your time. I think the viewers learned a ton about what's been going on internationally And uh, just want to tell everybody what you're doing nowadays And and I think they're going to want to look you up on on social media what i'm doing. I'm doing the teaching job You know because of covid it's mostly it's online online Teaching i'm teaching valine and teaching piano. Thank you very much gregarie. I really enjoyed talking to you Have a good afternoon, uh, and i'll talk to you soon Thanks a lot folks. Take care. Good night. Thank you. Bye. Bye